The past few months have been stressful for Albertans as we have all done our best to stay healthy and keep our family, friends, and neighbors safe from COVID-19. For anyone who has been missing their physiotherapist and physiotherapy treatment, it is welcome news that businesses can begin to re-open and that physiotherapists can now begin to provide services beyond urgent or emergency care.
However, this experience has made us all more aware of the need to protect ourselves and our families from the spread of infections. We may be a little nervous about venturing back out into public spaces and returning to activities that require close personal contact with someone other than our family. Although many of us are excited and ready to get back to our normal routines, some are asking “is it safe to go see my physiotherapist?”
Both Physiotherapy Alberta and the physiotherapists we regulate take your safety seriously. Physiotherapy Alberta has provided direction to physiotherapists regarding the measures that need to be in place for you to receive the care you need in a safe environment.
We keep hearing about the new normal and you probably want to know what that looks like for physiotherapy clinics and other community physiotherapy services. Let us look at what you can expect when you go to see your physiotherapist.
Physiotherapists, like all regulated health professionals, have a responsibility to provide safe and effective care to the public. They are also expected to comply with all relevant legislation, directives and other guidelines put forth by the Alberta Government and Physiotherapy Alberta. Over the last several weeks, the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) has provided guidance about the measures to use in health-care settings to help limit the spread of COVID-19, including:
Although physiotherapists can resume providing in-person care for patients who did not meet previous urgent care criteria, it is important to remember that it will not be business as usual for a while, if ever. In-person services must only proceed when the anticipated benefits of such services outweigh the risks to the patient and the physiotherapist. Physiotherapists must consider many factors as they balance the risks and benefits of providing in-person care to their clients, including the risk that providing in-person care may also increase the spread of the virus.
One of the most effective strategies to protect the patient and the physiotherapist is to avoid unnecessary close personal contact. For this reason, continuing to offer physiotherapy services through telerehabilitation, when appropriate for the patient’s needs, is strongly recommended. Your physiotherapist may recommend that some or all your physiotherapy be provided through telerehabilitation.
Several other factors may affect the ability to schedule in person visits in the coming weeks, including:
Clinic owners and physiotherapists may need to institute a prioritization process to ensure the clients who have the greatest need for in-person care are able to access it in a timely manner.
If an in-person visit is appropriate, be prepared for some changes.
The CMOH has now indicated that people should use masks when they are in public and in close contact with other people. Wearing a mask protects the people you come in contact with. The CMOH has indicated that medical masks need to be reserved for use by health-care providers, so patients are asked to bring their own masks when coming for treatment.
If a clinic cannot provide medical masks for their staff, the clinic must close until an adequate supply has been obtained. The Alberta government has more information on the use of masks by the public available on its website.
If you have concerns, you can call or email the following organizations:
Alberta physiotherapists are happy to be able to resume providing you with the care you need in order to be able to work, play, and function at the level you want. However, Physiotherapy Alberta and registered physiotherapists are also committed to providing care in a safe manner and will continue to follow the directives and guidance of the public health experts as clinics reopen across the province.